A FARMER near Hay-on-Wye needs to make changes as he works with the Environment Agency to reduce to risk of polluting the river Wye, documents reveal.

Lewis Price, of Stowe Farm in Whitney-on-Wye has been working with the Environment Agency to develop a plan to reduce any run-off from a silage store.

The water quality of the river Wye was raised by Ross-on-Wye Angling Club, further downstream, earlier this year as the group said the levels of population were "shocking".

In March, the club said of the 34 water samples taken since July 2020, 29 (85.3 per cent), exceeded the maximum permitted level for phosphate content, which is 0.03 parts per million.

County Times: Ross-on-Wye anglers and the Marine Conservation Society are monitoring the pollution levels in the River Wye. Pictured here from left, Trevor Hyde, Rob Leather, Roy Jacobs and Dr Peter Richardson from the Marine Conservation Society Ross-on-Wye anglers and the Marine Conservation Society are monitoring the pollution levels in the River Wye. Pictured here from left, Trevor Hyde, Rob Leather, Roy Jacobs and Dr Peter Richardson from the Marine Conservation Society

The majority did so by a factor of four or five times above this level, and in one case the sample was 10 times higher than permitted.

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Only five samples (14.7 per cent) met permitted levels.

The Wye problems were on top of high levels of pollution in one of its tributaries, the river Lugg.

Phosphate levels in the river catchment area were found to be so high that the council put a moratorium on new development in most of North Herefordshire while it tried to find a solution.

The phosphate was said to come from fertilisers applied to agricultural land, but that was the case across the country and not just by one farm.

For the farm in Whitney-on-Wye, which is near a watercourse which feeds into the river Wye, Mr Price asked Herefordshire Council for planning permission to cover an open silage store.

County Times: The toll bridge over the river Wye at Whitney-on-Wye. Picture: John Savery The toll bridge over the river Wye at Whitney-on-Wye. Picture: John Savery

The application said the scheme would improve pollution control in accordance with advice received from the Environment Agency to reduce the potential for run-off.

Jeremy Churchill, from the Environment Agency, said in an email to planners: "I can confirm that the agency has worked with Natural England and Mr Lewis of Stowe Farm to develop a scheme that will reduce the risk of pollution to the river Wye.

"I under that grants have been secured by The Stowe to implement this work."

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He added: "We would like to see this scheme go ahead to deliver on water quality improvements."

The proposed site area was said in the planning documents to be 1,300 sq. metres, and the proposed building would be made of concrete walls with steel columns to support a green aluminium roof.

The scheme would not increase any flood risk, and a sustainable drainage system would be used to dispose of surface water.

Comments on the application can be made until Wednesday, June 30, with a decision expected on Monday, August 2.